Nicholls Gay Straight Alliance cancels Fall Drag Show

Nicholls’ Gay Straight Alliance canceled its Fall Drag Show scheduled for Thursday and
declared itself inactive for the remainder of this semester due to low membership and
participation within the organization.

The club has only two members: President Logan Hardouin and his vice president.
Hardouin, who has been the organization’s president for a year, said the club consisted of
about 20 people when he joined in August 2013, but less people joined each year. Hardouin said
13 people attended the first meeting at the beginning of the semester.
“After the first meeting, I was optimistic, because 10 is the minimum amount of people
you need be an active organization on campus.”

However, only two people showed up and paid the $5 fee at the second meeting.
He said the third meeting would be the deciding factor of whether or not the club would
continue and the drag show would take place, but only one member attended. Therefore,
Hardouin returned the $5 fee to the two active members and cancelled the events scheduled for
this semester.

Due to low financial contribution from members, Hardouin said he began paying out of
pocket to fund the events on campus last semester. “I spent close to $500 to go toward the organization and its events.”

The GSA Drag Show was one of the main events the organization hosted on campus.
Drag shows are known to be events where performers can cross-dress and lip-synch to
songs of their choice.

Hardouin said he was pleased with the attendance at these events, especially at the Fall
2015 Drag Show.

He said, “There were close to 300 people in the ballroom for it.”

Hardouin said he thinks attendance was so high because the drag show was around the
same time as Nicholls Homecoming festivities.

He said the organization regretted not charging admission at that show, but he was not
going to make that mistake again.

“The admission fee for this semester’s drag show was going to be $5 at the door and $2 for
pre-sale tickets.”

The president also said the drag show was going to follow a Halloween theme and have a
costume contest.

“In the middle of the show, we were going to have a costume contest where I chose the
best male costume, female costume, group costumes and couple costumes. I was going to figure
out some type of prize for them.”

Hardouin said he would like GSA to remain on campus next semester, but only if people
show interest and contribute.

The Gay Straight Alliance has been on campus for about 10 years. According to the
organization’s webpage, “Nicholls State University Gay Straight Alliance is an organization that
focuses on the support, equality, and culture of the LBGT community. We accept and encourage
all people to join regardless of race, gender, and sexual orientation.”